Attitude, positivity, and art of being grateful with Lofa Tatupu

Whether he was growing up in the Patriots locker room, going to school in LA, or playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Lofa Tatupu has found strength and positivity in his family’s roots. Those roots run deep, even today.

“The other day wife said something to [our son] Cain, and Cain, just out of habit, I don’t know where he got it,” Tatupu told KIRO Nights. “I haven’t really done it since my dad passed away … Cain looked at her and said ‘What?’ And he raised that eyebrow.”

“She says, ‘That’s Mosi right there,'” he said.

Tatupu’s late father Mosi is also of NFL fame, and was known for cocking an eyebrow. His son has been known to do it too. And now, his grandson.

“I went back and I found a picture of him doing it, Cain did it, and I did it too,” Tatupu said, noting that he posted the image to his social media. “‘Somethings go back farther than we know’ is what I captioned it with. They never met. My youngest was born four years after my dad passed.”

Seattle announcer headed to SF for Golden State Warriors

Seahawks fans are well aware of Lofa Tatupu. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round in 2005 as a linebacker. He played for Seattle from 2005 to 2010. Eventually, he would serve as an assistant linebackers coach for the Seahawks in 2015-2016. Today, however, Tatupu’s life revolves more around being a husband and a dad.

“The greatest thing to ever happen to me is my wife Rachel, and with that came two beautiful boys; eight and five years old, the the light of my life, all of them,” he said. “And I’m just grateful to have that kind of support system. You know that no matter what’s going on in the day I go home it’s a great day, when you get to see your family. This is just a blessing and I’m grateful.”

He’s been known for his overwhelming positive character. Tatupu’s gratitude stems from a personal attitude. And while he can point to his family today as bringing light into his life, he says it started with his parents.

“I think it comes from my parents, I know it does,” Tatupu said. “Even when things weren’t always great, you know, life happens. Through all the ups and the downs, I’ve always had my family. They’ve always said, ‘Hey, it could always be worse.’ That attitude of knowing that there might be someone out there going through something rougher than you are. We all go through things. Knowing that all you can do is make best of the situation and how you react to everything is what makes life meaningful. With that in mind, I always just try to look at the bright side of things.”

He further credits his dad for helping him stay grounded as he played in the NFL. Growing up, he saw his dad, Mosi Tatupu, play for the New England Patriots. It was part of his world, so he had a sense of what to expect.

“My mom, too, who was the disciplinarian of the group,” Tatupu said. “She was the oldest of seven, her dad was a Marine, and her mom was Air Force. It was heavily regimented.”

“I see the resemblance in my kids, I see how we live on, I see how everything we are taught gets passed on,” he added. “I’m grateful for it.”

Follow @https://twitter.com/DyerOxley